Mitten_reef’s WB55.2 - An Acroholic's Journey 3/26/23 fts

[mitten_reef]

FTS

 

You can find most of my reefing journey here.  

3/26/2023

2/28/2023

 

1/9/2023

FTS History

Spoiler

 

 

[mitten_reef]

 

Main equipment

• tank: Waterbox FRAG 55.2 with WB cabinet and sump
• light: ATI Sunpower 4-bulb T5, with two Orphek OR3 blue+ bars
• return: Vectra M1
• heater: NeoTherm 200W
• flow: 2 Icecap Gyre’s; one 2K and 1K each 

 

 

[mitten_reef]

Some initial goals of this journal

• This will be my first-ever sump system. I want to document all the ups and downs of the new adventure.
• Better photos - will have to figure this one out 😅
• No frag rack - there'll be better coral selections in this tank.
• No more coralline - since this tank will be viewable from 3 sides, there will be zero tolerance on coralline
•  

[mitten_reef]

WB Arrival (6-4-2020)

Overall, the shipment came very well packaged, everything was shrink-wrapped and placed on a shipping pallet, with a NO STACK cone tied to the top.  But as you can see the base of the pallet got a little banged up.  I notified @Waterbox Aquariums, who quickly replied with an open ticket for me should anything be wrong inside.  

 

But as you can see from a series of photos below, I'm happy to report that everything turned out just fine.  We'll have to wait for the tank photos inside the house another day, along with cabinet assembly process.  

 

 

 

 

 

[whisnantrider]

Nice!

[ninjamyst]

Was doing more research into waterbox....is it true the sumps dont have a dedicated area for refugium?  Seems like they used that space for ATO instead.  How big is the ATO reservoir?

[mitten_reef]

15 minutes ago, ninjamyst said:

Was doing more research into waterbox....is it true the sumps dont have a dedicated area for refugium?  Seems like they used that space for ATO instead.  How big is the ATO reservoir?

The area circled is the ato reservoir, roughly 7.25” square and 14” high. The volume listed on the spec is 3.6 gallon. The center chamber (between the socks and the return pump) runs the width of the sump, so you could possibly add a partition to have a dedicated refugium?

[Waterbox Aquariums]

On 6/6/2020 at 12:35 AM, mitten_reef said:

WB Arrival (6-4-2020)

Overall, the shipment came very well packaged, everything was shrink-wrapped and placed on a shipping pallet, with a NO STACK cone tied to the top.  But as you can see the base of the pallet got a little banged up.  I notified @Waterbox Aquariums, who quickly replied with an open ticket for me should anything be wrong inside.  

 

But as you can see from a series of photos below, I'm happy to report that everything turned out just fine.  We'll have to wait for the tank photos inside the house another day, along with cabinet assembly process.  

 

 

 

 

We are so glad to hear that everything arrived safely, despite the damage to the shipping pallet!  If you need any assistance in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us.  : )

 

On 6/7/2020 at 9:34 PM, ninjamyst said:

Was doing more research into waterbox....is it true the sumps dont have a dedicated area for refugium?  Seems like they used that space for ATO instead.  How big is the ATO reservoir?

Hi there!  Our Reef Pro and Peninsula models come standard with an optional-use refugium plate, but you can most definitely set up refugiums in our sumps on your own.  Many of our customers have added them with third party refugium plates, such as the ones Octo Aquatics makes.  : )

[Coolbreeze]

On 6/7/2020 at 9:54 PM, mitten_reef said:

The area circled is the ato reservoir, roughly 7.25” square and 14” high. The volume listed on the spec is 3.6 gallon. The center chamber (between the socks and the return pump) runs the width of the sump, so you could possibly add a partition to have a dedicated refugium?

Are you thinking of running a refugium?

[mitten_reef]

2 minutes ago, Coolbreeze said:

Are you thinking of running a refugium?

not at this moment, no.  I don't think I have any excess nutrient issue in my current tank.   I was just answering question from @ninjamyst, about ATO reservoir and space for refugium in the sump. 

I am contemplating running a skimmer in the center chamber, that and placing all of my current live rocks in there to help with biological filtration and diversity, as I plan to get some new rocks (both dry and live, if i can find some decent shaped live rocks at LFS) for the display.  

[mitten_reef]

Ok. Unpacked the stand tonight. Baby step 😅 everything is well packed. 

Got the new stand with the black interior/framing pieces. 

Line them up on the wall.  Getting ready to assemble, hopefully this weekend. 

The cutout of the top piece has a small peel of the edge band laminate, exposing the wood/particle board substrate a bit. Thinking of putting a dab of glue over it since it’s be on the underside and open to the sump humidity. 

 

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Hopefully it’s easier to adjust the feet on this size than mine was.  Good luck on the new build!

[jcreefer]

47 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

 

The cutout of the top piece has a small peel of the edge band laminate, exposing the wood/particle board substrate a bit. Thinking of putting a dab of glue over it since it’s be on the underside and open to the sump humidity. 

 

 

Just when I thought they had put their QC woes behind them. 👎🏼   And you’re right about the humidity, the laminate will “delaminate” with any kind of moisture intrusion.  Hopefully it’s a really minor fix on your part!

[5*Chris]

On 5/23/2020 at 10:04 PM, mitten_reef said:

 

Main equipment

• Waterbox FRAG 55.2 with WB cabinet and sump
• Nanobox hybrid (4xT5/4xLED)

• IM MightyJet (538 gph) or Tunze 1073.020 (638 gph)
• NeoTherm 200W
• Icecap Gyre 1K (starting to wonder if it'd fit the space one the sides of the center overflow)

 

 

Depending on the head height, the mighty jet might not be enough. On my 40b with a little over 4ft head, I had to max out the mighty jet to get just ok flow. Granted im using a 3/4 RFG, but also only a single return. I'm very happy with the Jebao DCP-3500 I put in it's place. At 43% the RFG is actually doing what it is supposed to and that's with a manifold running a phosban 150 as an algae reactor.

[mitten_reef]

Rocks delivery today  .  really, other than reefers, how many other people get excited about a box of rocks?   

So in addition to some live rocks I picked up from LFS.  I pulled the trigger on some new dry rock during the 7/4 sales from @Premiumaq.  Got me a 40-lb box of caribsea, Southsea Base Shelf rocks.  It's likely that I won't need half of that quantity, but this mixed box, should give me plenty of choices.  Can't wait to see what they look like.

[5*Chris]

35 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

Rocks delivery today  .  really, other than reefers, how many other people get excited about a box of rocks?   

So in addition to some live rocks I picked up from LFS.  I pulled the trigger on some new dry rock during the 7/4 sales from @Premiumaq.  Got me a 40-lb box of caribsea, Southsea Base Shelf rocks.  It's likely that I won't need half of that quantity, but this mixed box, should give me plenty of choices.  Can't wait to see what they look like.

A box of rocks for reefers is like a box of Legos for kids. If I lived near you, I'd offer to come help build, but you know there's always that 1 kid that takes the piece you need 😂. 

[mitten_reef]

Here are the rocks!!  
These shelf rocks are cut flat on one side, which make for easier aquascaping for shallower tanks (at least that’s what I’m hoping for). There are two giant ones (12+”) that I probably can’t use in this tank, unless I end up breaking them up. But I think I have enough of the medium and small pieces to work with for now. 

 

[spectra]

This is like watching grass grow................ get the thing set up.............. 

[mitten_reef]

1 hour ago, spectra said:

This is like watching grass grow................ get the thing set up.............. 

stand will be put together this evening or this weekend. My wife even asked if I’m actually planning to do anything with the new tank 😅. You know you’re slow when the wife asked why it’s still sitting in pieces. 😂. But she’s the one got me busy with other things around the house every wknd since this tank arrived. 

 

[FISHnChix]

On 7/9/2020 at 6:38 AM, mitten_reef said:

really, other than reefers, how many other people get excited about a box of rocks?   

Box of rocks hmmm? I know a few that get really excited about a baggie of rocks.. oh and the geologists at my work get REALLY excited about boxes of rocks lol so a there are a few other weirdos out there that like rocks🤣

 

Really just posting to follow along😉. .. and get this thing wet already would ya🤦‍♂️🍻

[jcreefer]

47 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

stand will be put together this evening or this weekend. My wife even asked if I’m actually planning to do anything with the new tank 😅. You know you’re slow when the wife asked why it’s still sitting in pieces. 😂. But she’s the one got me busy with other things around the house every wknd since this tank arrived. 

 

Same!!! 🤣😭

[Elizabeth94]

Looks like you have some good pieces of rock to start with. You using any glue or epoxy? 

[mitten_reef]

Made some progress this morning. 
The stand is pretty easy to put together for the ikea generation, but the instruction is a little thin (1-page of pictures).

 

judging by the amount of cam locks on this side panel, this thing won’t move anywhere.  

 

the assembled cabinet; still need to hang the door. 

 

 

 

[Elizabeth94]

Yeah the stand directions aren’t the best. But once you understand what they are getting at it goes pretty smoothly. At least for me it did. I really like their stands. They feel solid!

[spectra]

I still like these better......😉